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Monday, October 6, 2014

Farewell, Dear Father

Last Friday night, the feast of the Transitus of St Francis, Fr Benedict Groeschel, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscans of Renewal, writer, speaker and EWTN regular, died at the age of 81. Fr Benedict had been ill for some time, and had recently had a serious fall. His death leaves me with mixed emotions: great sadness at the loss of one whose presence and wisdom were a joy, and yet happiness that this holy man has gone to his eternal reward and, I personally believe, has entered the glory of the Saints.

As you know Fr Benedict was an extraordinary man. He inspired devotion and awe in those who admired him. I was once asked by a professor in seminary who I would regard as an influence in preaching, I spoke of Fr Benedict to which the professor responded: "He is a most dangerous man!" Indeed he was: he preached the Gospel with such clarity, fidelity and courage he was a consummate evangeliser, and many saw him as a threat. He was. I think he is up there with the Venerable Fulton Sheen, forming minds, hearts and souls in the ways of the Gospel. It is for that reason that I will miss him, but thank the Lord we have so many books, videos and CDs to console us.

Fr Benedict was a great preacher, a comedian, a pragmatic pastoral minister, a devout religious. Those who knew him will also know that he was a man of great humility: he did not take himself seriously. His New Jersey/New York background lent him a personality that complimented his faith, grounding it in reality. He met difficulties with a shrug and reiterated that God was in charge, all would be well. He was not afraid of death, indeed he was ready for it - he used to say that he would often practice a pitiful voice to wail for mercy when he came before the throne of God. I have no doubt that he did not need to do so. I am sure the Lord smiled when this servant came before him, and I believe he heard the words: "Well done, good and faithful servant; come and enter into your Master's happiness".

Fr Benedict had a deep love for those in his care: his spiritual children be they in his order or otherwise, those he ministered to as priest and preacher, and for the poor. He spent a large part of his life working with priests and seminarians, working in the seminary in Dunwoodie and in New York Archdiocese's Trinity Retreat at Larchmont on Long Island Sound. It was in that retreat house that he carried his most sensitive work as priest and psychologist: ministering to broken priests.

Fr Benedict fostered a paternal love for these priests, men worn out by the ministry, men fallen on hard times, addicted to alcohol or other vices, and then the most despised of all: priests who had abused. In a Church where the ministry of priests is taken for granted and many are forgotten, left to their work, not cared for, Fr Benedict was one who reached out to them to rebuild and restore what had crumbled through years of neglect, fatigue and loneliness. He said that often when burnt-out priests arrived to speak to him, or those who were considering leaving the ministry, the first question he asked them was: "When did you stop praying?" Inevitably all of them had abandoned prayer, and Fr Benedict's first piece of advice was to begin praying again. No priest can live without prayer, no priest can work without prayer, no priest can be a priest without prayer.

I am convinced that Fr Benedict is a Saint, I believe he is now in heaven: that is my personal opinion and I do not dare to speak for the Church. I do hope that five years from now, when the canonical waiting period is up, his Cause for beatification and canonisation will be opened. I have already started to pray to him. I had met him a number of times, and among those meetings I remember with great fondness spending a day with him at Trinity Retreat - it was a wonderful day. He gave up his time to spend that day with an Irish seminarian, to talk, advise and guide. That he would consider that meeting important in what was a busy life struck me and taught me that a priest must always have time for those who come to him regardless of how important or unimportant we might think such meetings. I can now thank him for this and the many other lessons he taught me in meetings, in talks, in books, on TV and on CDs.

As we sympathise with the CFRs on the death of their founder and father, and commend him to God, let us also thank the Lord for his life, his ministry and the many hours of preaching in which he opened the Gospel for us, reminding us of the joy and laughter that is to be found in our relationship with Christ.

Pray for us, Fr Benedict; watch over us. Thank you for your example and your work. May the Lord grant us the joy of one day (soon) of seeing you raised to the altars. Santo Subito!

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Novena to the Holy Family for the Cause of Marriage and Family Life in Ireland

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

Holy Family of Nazareth,

we bless and venerate you.

We commend to your care and protection

the cause of marriage and family life.

May the peace which reigned in your home

take possession of all hearts and abide in all families.

Confirm all men and women in the truth

so we may recognise what is good and right

and reject all that hinders life

and the true flourishing of humanity.

Guide the hearts of all citizens

that we may witness to the truth

in forming the laws governing our society.

Bless those who work for the protection

of marriage, family and life.

O Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

Holy Family of Nazareth,

We entrust our hearts and our lives to you.

Amen

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Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the witness of your Servant, Blessed Paul VI, who served you and the Church as Universal Pastor in difficult times.

As a pilgrim among pilgrims he sought to reveal the beauty and joy of the Gospel to the men and women of his time, choosing the way of gentleness and forbearance.

As Shepherd of the flock he sought to proclaim the truth in a time of great confusion in imitation of his patron the Apostle to the Gentiles.

As Servant he proclaimed the Gospel of Life and in doing so bore the cross of suffering and isolation in union with your Crucified Son becoming a Prophet in the midst of the growing culture of death.

As we beseech you to raise your Servant to be numbered among the Saints, may his example of faith, courage and patient endurance inspire us in our daily living of the Gospel and in our witness to Jesus Christ.

May we too be Prophets of life, respecting, protecting and cherishing the gift of life, most especially in its most vulnerable moments.

May we too be your missionaries at this time, seeking to transform the hearts of all men and women through the joy we find in Christ.

Hear our prayers, most Merciful Father, and grant us through the intercession of Blessed Paul the graces we now ask that you may grant a healing of baby Paul.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

Blessed Paul VI, pray for him

Prayer For Christians In The Middle East

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour of the world, look upon our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, who proclaim your Name and live your Gospel in the midst of persecution, strive and martyrdom. Save them, we pray, protect them, and hear our prayer that peace may come to the Land you graced with your presence.

Pro-Life Novena to St Gianna

Saint Gianna,
Wife, Mother, Doctor and exemplary Christian,
intercede with Christ, our Lord of Life
to help us in these times to proclaim the Gospel of Life;
to bring to an end the evil of abortion
and the conversion of those who promote it;
to help and console those women tempted to do it,
and to heal those who have had one.
Watch over Ireland in these critical days.
Amen.

Three Hail Marys.

About Me

Fr John Hogan, OCDS, a Secular Discalced Carmelite priest serving in the Diocese of Meath, Ireland, is the founder and current Father Director of the Fraternity of St Genesius, an international association of prayer for those in the arts and media. He co-hosts the television series "Forgotten Heritage" on the Eternal Word Television Network.

St Genesius

Fraternity of St Genesius

Become a Missionary From Your Own Home

Assist the Church in her mission of evangelisation to those in the cinema and the arts. As a member of the Fraternity of St Genesius, you can be a missionary through your prayer, uniting yourself with men and women all over the world. In this International Family of Prayer, you can have a part in the New Evangelisation. For more information go to http://www.stgenesius.com/.